CONCRETE FINISHING MACHINE WITH ADJUSTABLE FLOAT
A concrete finishing machine includes a base portion and an extendable and retractable boom mounted at the base portion, and a finishing head mounted at a distal end of the boom. The finishing head includes (i) a float pivotally attached at a frame of the finishing head via a plurality of linkages, (ii) a float actuator that, when actuated, imparts pivotal movement of the linkages to adjust the float relative to the frame, and (iii) a surface finishing element. The concrete finishing machine is operable to selectively position the float or the surface finishing element at the concrete surface during extension or retraction of the boom. Responsive to a sensing device, the finishing head is maintained at a desired level or position above the concrete surface with the float or the surface finishing element at the concrete surface during extension or retraction of the boom.
The present application claims the filing benefits of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 63/264,254, filed Nov. 18, 2021, and U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 63/200,945, filed Apr. 5, 2021, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to concrete finishing machines for leveling and smoothing and finishing of concrete that has been placed over a surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONScreeding devices or machines are used to level and smooth uncured concrete to a desired grade. Known screeding machines typically include a screed head, which includes a vibrating member and a grade setting device, such as a plow or an auger device. The screed head is vertically adjustable, such as in response to a laser leveling system, to establish the desired grade at the vibrating member. Examples of such screeding machines are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,655,633; 4,930,935; 6,227,761; 7,044,681; 7,175,363 and 7,396,186, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. After the concrete is screeded, a bull float may be used to finish the concrete surface. Such bull floats are typically attached at the end of a pole and manually moved over the concrete surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA concrete finishing machine for finishing a concrete surface includes a base portion and an extendable and retractable boom mounted at the base portion. A finishing head is mounted at an end of the boom distal from the base portion. The finishing head comprises a float (e.g., a bull float or a channel float or a trowel or the like) pivotally attached at a frame of the finishing head via a plurality of linkages. The finishing head comprises a float actuator that, when actuated, imparts pivotal movement of the linkages to adjust the float relative to the frame. The finishing head also comprises a surface finishing element. The concrete finishing machine is operable to selectively position the float or the surface finishing element at the concrete surface during extension or retraction of the boom. The concrete finishing machine comprises a sensing device. Responsive to the sensing device, the finishing head is maintained at a desired level or position or height or distance above the concrete surface with the float or the surface finishing element at the concrete surface during extension or retraction of the boom.
These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.
Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a concrete finishing machine 10 includes a base unit 12 (which may comprise a wheeled unit as shown in
The controller of the screeding machine individually controls the elevation cylinders of the screed head responsive to signals generated by the laser receivers 26, which sense a laser reference plane generated at the work site. Although shown in
Finishing machine 10 and the finishing head or assembly 16 may be similar in construction and/or operation as the screeding and/or finishing and/or spraying machines and heads described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,655,633; 4,930,935; 7,044,681; 7,175,363; 7,396,186; 9,835,610; 10,156,048 and/or 10,895,045, and/or U.S. Publication Nos. US-2007-0116520 and/or US-2010-0196096, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, such that a detailed discussion of the overall construction and operation of the machines and heads need not be repeated herein. However, aspects of the present invention are suitable for use on other types of machines. For example, the finishing head of the surface finishing machine may be suitable for use on a smaller machine, such as a machine of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,976,805; 7,121,762 and/or 7,850,396, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, the finishing head may be used on other types of machines, such as a machine with the head mounted at an articulatable boom, such as of the types described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,190,268, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The machine relies on data to accurately control pitch and roll of the finishing head. Pitch is the fore/aft tilt of the head about its longitudinal axis. An SLS (Self Level System) actuator 28 controls the head angle as the boom is extended and retracted.
As shown in
The float 18 is pivotally mounted at the frame 16a of the finishing head 16 via a plurality of linkages 18a, 18b (which may comprise parallel linkages), which are pivoted relative to the frame via one or more float actuators 30. As shown in
The broom element 20 is mounted at an end of an arm 20a that is pivotally mounted at the frame 16a and that is pivotally mounted to linkage 18a. Thus, extension and retraction of actuator 30 also pivots arm 20a to raise and lower the broom element 20 relative to the concrete surface.
In the illustrated embodiment, the finishing head 16 includes the spraying device 22, which includes a plurality of spraying nozzles 22a disposed along and within a cover element 22b. The spraying device is operable to spray curing or finishing chemicals onto the concrete surface. The spraying device is fixedly attached at the frame 16a and thus pivots upward or downward responsive to extension or retraction of the SLS actuators 28.
Thus, the float actuator 30 is operable to change the angle direction of the float, while the SLS actuator 28 can adjust the angle to fine tune the angle of attack of the bull float. As can be seen with reference to
Optionally, and such as shown in
As shown in
As can be seen with reference to
Therefore, the concrete surface finishing machine provides a float on a concrete finishing head and allows for selective use of the bull float (in either direction) and/or the broom or brush or texturing element via extension and retraction of one or more actuators. For example, the bull float actuator extends/retracts to change the bull float direction, while the head actuator adjusts or pivots the head to fine tune the angle of attack of the bull float. The bull float actuator may adjust the bull float+/−10 degrees (or more or less) for the boom extension/boom retraction pass, with fine tuning or attack angle adjustments done via extension/retraction of the head or SLS actuator.
The float may be added to a broom/texturing head. Optionally, the bull float may be pivotally mounted at a screeding head (where the float and/or plow and vibrating or screeding member may be selectively positioned at the concrete surface in a similar manner as discussed above with the float and broom). Optionally, the bull float may be adjustably positioned on a float head at the end of the boom for enhanced control of the bull float and attack angle as the boom is extended and retracted. The float is attached to the head (e.g., finishing head, screeding head or float head), such as via the 4-bar linkage or other means for holding the float at the desired angle), and has its angle of attack adjusted via extension/retraction of the float actuator (via the 4-bar linkage). Optionally, the bull float may be raised away from the concrete surface via pivoting of the head frame or via retraction of another actuator (optionally with a chain connection).
Thus, for example, the finishing machine may angle the float to float the concrete surface during extension of the boom. The machine may then switch the direction angle of the bull float and float the concrete surface during retraction of the boom. The machine may then extend the boom again and raise the float, and then retract the boom with the broom on the concrete surface to provide the desired texture at the surface, with the curing compound sprayed onto the textured or broomed surface.
Optionally, the finishing head may only utilize the bull float during retraction of the boom. For example, and such as shown in
The bull float 218 is pivotally mounted at the frame 216a of the finishing head 216 via parallel linkages 218a, 218b. As shown in
The broom element 220 is mounted at an end of an arm 220a that is pivotally mounted at the frame 216a. As also shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the finishing head 216 includes the spraying device 222, which includes a plurality of spraying nozzles 222a disposed along and within a cover element 222b. The spraying device is operable to spray curing or finishing chemicals onto the concrete surface. The spraying device is fixedly attached at the frame 216a and thus pivots upward or downward responsive to extension or retraction of the SLS actuators 228.
Thus, the attack angle of the bull float may be set and, during operation of the finishing head, the boom is extended to position the finishing head at a starting position, and the finishing head is lowered so that the bull float (and broom) rests on the concrete surface. As the boom is retracted, the bull float and brush are dragged along the surface of the concrete ahead of the spraying nozzles. The finishing head may include similar components and may operate in a similar manner as the finishing heads 16, 116, discussed above, such that a detailed discussion of the finishing heads need not be repeated herein.
Changes and modifications to the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law.
Claims
1. A concrete finishing machine for finishing a concrete surface, the concrete finishing machine comprising:
- a base portion and an extendable and retractable boom mounted at the base portion;
- a finishing head mounted at an end of the boom distal from the base portion;
- wherein the finishing head comprises a float pivotally attached at a frame of the finishing head via a plurality of linkages;
- wherein the finishing head comprises a float actuator that, when actuated, imparts pivotal movement of the plurality of linkages to adjust the float relative to the frame;
- wherein the finishing head comprises a surface finishing element;
- wherein the concrete finishing machine is operable to selectively position the float or the surface finishing element at the concrete surface during extension or retraction of the boom; and
- wherein the concrete finishing machine comprises a sensing device, and wherein, responsive to the sensing device, the finishing head is maintained at a desired level or position above the concrete surface with the float or the surface finishing element at the concrete surface during extension or retraction of the boom.
2. The concrete finishing machine of claim 1, wherein selective positioning of the float or the surface finishing element at the concrete surface comprises pivoting of the frame of the finishing head via a self-level system (SLS) actuator at the finishing head.
3. The concrete finishing machine of claim 1, wherein selective positioning of the float or the surface finishing element at the concrete surface comprises lowering the float to a lowered level below the surface finishing element to position the float at the concrete surface and raising the float to a raised level above the surface finishing element to position the surface finishing element at the concrete surface.
4. The concrete finishing machine of claim 1, wherein actuation of the float actuator adjusts a direction of the angle of the float at the concrete surface.
5. The concrete finishing machine of claim 1, wherein the surface finishing element comprises a texturing element that, when moved along the concrete surface during retraction of the boom, textures the concrete surface.
6. The concrete finishing machine of claim 5, wherein the texturing element comprises a broom or brush element.
7. The concrete finishing machine of claim 1, wherein the finishing head includes a curing spray device that is operable to spray onto the concrete surface as the boom is extended or retracted.
8. The concrete finishing machine of claim 1, wherein the float is disposed at the frame of the finishing head so as to be leading the surface finishing element during retraction of the boom and trailing the surface finishing element during extension of the boom.
9. The concrete finishing machine of claim 1, wherein the sensing device comprises a distance sensor that senses a distance between the sensing device and the concrete surface.
10. The concrete finishing machine of claim 9, wherein the concrete finishing machine adjusts the height of the finishing head to a first distance when the float is at the concrete surface and to a second distance when the surface finishing element is at the concrete surface.
11. The concrete finishing machine of claim 10, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance, and wherein the float is raised when the surface finishing element is at the concrete surface.
12. The concrete finishing machine of claim 1, wherein the boom comprises a telescoping boom.
13. The concrete finishing machine of claim 1, wherein the boom comprises an articulating boom.
14. The concrete finishing machine of claim 1, wherein the plurality of linkages comprise multiple sets of two parallel linkages.
15. The concrete finishing machine of claim 1, wherein the float comprises a bull float.
16. A concrete finishing machine for finishing a concrete surface, the concrete finishing machine comprising:
- a base portion and an extendable and retractable boom mounted at the base portion;
- a finishing head mounted at an end of the boom distal from the base portion;
- wherein the finishing head comprises a frame and a float pivotally attached at the frame via a plurality of sets of linkages spaced apart along the finishing head;
- wherein the finishing head comprises a float actuator that, when actuated, adjusts the float relative to the frame, and wherein the float adjusts relative to the frame via pivotal movement of the sets of linkages relative to the frame and relative to the float;
- wherein the finishing head comprises a surface finishing element attached at the frame;
- wherein the concrete finishing machine is operable to selectively position the float or the surface finishing element at the concrete surface during extension or retraction of the boom;
- wherein selective positioning of the float or the surface finishing element at the concrete surface comprises lowering the float to a lowered level below the surface finishing element to position the float at the concrete surface and raising the float to a raised level above the surface finishing element to position the surface finishing element at the concrete surface; and
- wherein the concrete finishing machine comprises a sensing device, and wherein, responsive to the sensing device, the finishing head is maintained at a desired level or position above the concrete surface with the float or the surface finishing element at the concrete surface during extension or retraction of the boom.
17. The concrete finishing machine of claim 16, wherein selective positioning of the float or the surface finishing element at the concrete surface comprises pivoting of the frame of the finishing head via a self-level system (SLS) actuator at the finishing head.
18. The concrete finishing machine of claim 16, wherein actuation of the float actuator adjusts a direction of the angle of the float at the concrete surface.
19. The concrete finishing machine of claim 16, wherein the surface finishing element comprises a texturing element that, when moved along the concrete surface during retraction of the boom, textures the concrete surface.
20. The concrete finishing machine of claim 19, wherein the finishing head includes a curing spray device that is operable to spray onto the concrete surface as the boom is extended or retracted.
21. The concrete finishing machine of claim 16, wherein the float is disposed at the frame of the finishing head so as to be leading the surface finishing element during retraction of the boom and trailing the surface finishing element during extension of the boom.
22. The concrete finishing machine of claim 16, wherein the sensing device comprises a distance sensor that senses a distance between the sensing device and the concrete surface.
23. The concrete finishing machine of claim 22, wherein the concrete finishing machine adjusts the height of the finishing head to a first distance when the float is at the concrete surface and to a second distance when the surface finishing element is at the concrete surface, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.
24. The concrete finishing machine of claim 16, wherein the boom comprises a telescoping boom.
25. The concrete finishing machine of claim 16, wherein the boom comprises an articulating boom.
26. The concrete finishing machine of claim 16, wherein each of the sets of linkages comprises a set of two parallel linkages.
27. The concrete finishing machine of claim 16, wherein the float comprises a bull float.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 1, 2022
Publication Date: Oct 6, 2022
Inventors: Grant A. Johnson (Hancock, MI), Trevor Eenigenburg (Houghton, MI), Philip D. Halonen (Calumet, MI), Mark A. Pietila (Atlantic Mine, MI)
Application Number: 17/657,652